spirit award

[Mr. Giggles]

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

[Miner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Giggles

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

Check the rule book from last year. This kind of rule might not change from year to year, but it is still good to check. I believe the rule is no live bands and/or no musical instruments. Make sure to check though.

[EricH]

I seem to recall that noisemakers (such as airhorns) are not allowed. Section 3, At the Events, Game Manual, 2008. (Similar rules have been in place for years. Don't expect a change.)

[EDIT] After getting some time, a look at the manual reveals:

Originally Posted by Section 3

3.15.3 Competition Spirit
We ask that you choose to bring attention to your team in ways that are in good taste and in the
spirit of the competition. Please refrain from the following:
 Using obnoxious noisemakers.

Air horns count. Later:

Originally Posted by Section 3 again

3.17 SITE RESTRICTIONS
[...] Do not use noisy devices, such as floor stompers, whistles, or air horns

[fordchrist675]

Yea, those weren't allowed but there are alternatives. My team #675 used thundersticks that everyone heard and got annoyed with by the end of the competition. Haha

[JesseK]

Real spirit doesn't need a noisemaker...

[Andrew Schreiber]

Agreed with the above, but also, even if they are not forbidden in the rule book make sure you check with the venue. Some places forbid them.

ALSO, please please please, I beg you, no air horns. Even if they are allowed, some of us already are miserable at the amount of noise at a competition. Team spirit is not always the loudest team there, I know that RUSH recieved the award because all of our students had a passion (more like obsession) with the team and we really were more like a large family. Nothing to do with cheering or noise.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by fordchrist675

Yea, those weren't allowed but there are alternatives. My team #675 used thundersticks that everyone heard and got annoyed with by the end of the competition. Haha

As I recall you had quite a bit of competition as well ^_^
I, personally, don't think "thundersticks" are annoying, though. They're not "loud" like air horns are; they're "loud" in the sense that applause is loud, which is not a bad thing. They require the participation of the whole team, and thus show legitimate team spirit (as opposed to pressing the button on an air horn); and they're also common at professional sports, and I don't think fans there complain.

[wendymom]

I beg you....no whistles either. I was at a LEGO competition once where the team sitting next to us blew them constantly and couldn't hear for a few days afterward

[Madison]

My crotchety old person opinion is that it should be illegal to try to win the award. Do things because you like doing them or because it helps others. Don't do things to win awards.

[BHS_STopping]

Originally Posted by Madison

My crotchety old person opinion is that it should be illegal to try to win the award. Do things because you like doing them or because it helps others. Don't do things to win awards.

I agree. Even though the awards are very good motivators to try and excel in all aspects of FIRST, many participants realize after the first event or two that having fun and winning awards are mutually exclusive. Success shouldn't be measured by how full your trophy case is; it's about having an amazing experience which you can keep with yourself forever.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by BHS_STopping

I agree. Even though the awards are very good motivators to try and excel in all aspects of FIRST, many participants realize after the first event or two that having fun and winning awards are mutually exclusive. Success shouldn't be measured by how full your trophy case is; it's about having an amazing experience which you can keep with yourself forever.

Not quite mutually exclusive... You can have fun without winning an award, but if you get an award (especially if you didn't try for it), you have even more fun!

[BHS_STopping]

Originally Posted by EricH

Not quite mutually exclusive... You can have fun without winning an award, but if you get an award (especially if you didn't try for it), you have even more fun!

Oh, definitely true. Perhaps fun and winning awards shouldn't always have to go hand in hand, but both can certainly be a great way to end a competition!

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Madison

My crotchety old person opinion is that it should be illegal to try to win the award. Do things because you like doing them or because it helps others. Don't do things to win awards.

While I personally agree with you sponsors like awards, students like awards. But, teams can often focus on something because they feel passionate about it and end up winning an award for it. I think this is a good thing.

As a joke, we all like awards cuz they are shiny and who doesn't like shiny?

[Roger]

Originally Posted by MoeMom

Also "not encouraged" ...30 foot pit towers with blinking lights and digital displays.

To concur with this (I think: I haven't seen any 30 foot towers in the pits. Maybe 3 foot ones?) -- One year the team opposite us in the pit had a couple of those blinky safety cones, the ones with the flashy red lights, sitting in the front corners of their pit. Which, when sitting at our programming laptop, would blink-blink-blink right above the laptop screen. Very distracting, and I'm not sure very safe either.

[dsmoker]

I agree with the above posters that the team spirit award is about more than who has the most people/makes the most noise in the stands. When 558 won the award at the CT regional in 2007, it was to recognize the extraordinary efforts that the urban team members had to undergo just to be a part of the team, like walking and biking to meetings in all kinds of weather, as well as their willingness to help other teams.